Timisoara Air Show – impressions of an aviation photojournalist.

Short history of an airshow that could be more.Nearly five years ago, the first edition of Timisoara Air Show took place at Traian Vuia Timisoara International Airport. In 2019 Timisoara Air Show reaches its sixth edition, announced for June 15th, 2019. Although aviation airshows had been held at Timisoara airport, the most significant of which was in 2000, none of them managed to become an annual event. As an event it is not comparable in size to other international air shows, still over the years more than 30 types of civilian and military aircraft were present.

What can you see?
During the 5 previous editions of Timisoara Airshow, I had the opportunity to watch and photograph the evolution of several aerobatic teams, pilots specialized in aerobatic flight, private planes, ultralight aircraft, gliders, hot air balloons, skydivers and military planes. Aerobatic teams present at the Timisoara Airshow were the Hawks of Romania, Aerobatic Yakers, White Wings and Skybolt of Romania. There have also been evolution’s of international aerobatic teams and pilots, such as the Baltic Bees and the well-known Lithuanian pilot Jurgis Kayris. Private aircraft’s participated at almost every edition of Timisoara Airshow, most of the aircraft being ultralight ones, with a few exceptions such as Cessna 150, Cessna 172 and Antonov An-2. Military aviation was represented by the Romanian Air Force MiG-21 Lancer, C27J Spartan, and IAR-330 Puma M helicopters. Planes and helicopters present at the Timisoara Airshow along the years numbered the L-39 Albatros (Baltic Bees), Skeen Skybolt (Skybolt of Romania), Yak-52TW (Iacarii Acrobat), Sukhoi Su-31 (Jurgis Kayris), Extra 300 (Hawks of Romania), Extra 330 (Hawks of Romania), Cobra 202B, Mudry CAP-232, Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Antonov An-2, TL-96, WT-9 Dynamic, motor-delta-trike, gyrocopters and gliders IS-2B2 (White Wings), GA-8 Airvan. Before the closing of the airspace for the Timisoara Airshow I was able to photograph some landings and take-offs of passenger and cargo aircraft such as Wizz Air – Airbus A320-200, Tarom – ATR-72- 500 and Airbus A318, Lufthansa – Embraer ERJ-195LR, Silver Air – Let L-410 Turbolet and Vista Jet – Bombardier Challenger 350.

Should I go or not?From an organizing point of view of the Timisoara Airshow, there are of course pros and cons. The pros would include the very good organization of the parking area; easy access from the parking lot to the public area; the presence of the police ensuring smooth fluidization of traffic; public transport from and to the city at short time intervals before, during and after the airshow. The less pleasant aspects include airport traffic jams (slow but orderly moving column of cars) en route to and from the airport caused by a two-lane road, that is obviously insufficient for the large traffic generated by such an event; another problem is that by the half-time of the airshow the area reserved for photographers and the press is „flooded” by the public, which creates problems for journalists. This is a phenomenon that happens, with little exceptions, at most airshows in Romania.

I thing you should go. Especially if you are passionate by aviation.All in all the Timisoara Airshow could offer more from the point of view of aircrafts present, but this is an aspect that depends on the will and possibilities of the organizers (financial and not only). This aspect could be perfected through the participation of aerobatic teams such as Pioneer Team (Italy) or Retro Sky Team (Czech Republic); also Liusinov Li-2 or Polikarpov Po-2 of the Gold Timer Foundation from Hungary could be invited to participate at Timisoara Airshow. And some more helicopters.

But the most important thing is that the Timisoara Airshow exists and has become an annual event. Hopefully, in time, it will grow to become a landmark on the map of European airshows.